Health & Social Benefits of Camping You Need to Know About

By Susan Dickson

Health & Social Benefits of Camping You Need to Know About thegearhunt.com

As parents in a world where the television, video games, and Smartphones take precedence over getting outdoors, we are constantly looking for ways to get our kids off the electronics and out in the sun for exercise and fun.

One of the best ways we have found to get the kids outdoors and spend time together as a family is by taking one weekend out of the month, and one week every summer, to head to a favorite camping spot and rough it for a few days.

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People camp for many different reasons, whether it’s hiking, fishing, hunting, or just to commune with nature. What many people don’t realize is that there are benefits beyond communing with nature to be had from camping. Not only the benefits of being able to spend time with family and friends but health benefits as well.

That’s why in this blog, we will go into the benefits of camping with kids, family, and friends, and a few of the health benefits that you’ll get from striking a tent for the weekend and leaving the modern world behind. Are you ready to get started on our journey? Then grab your mug of coffee, snuggle up by the fire, and let’s get started into our blog on the top benefits of camping you should know about.

Health Benefits of Camping Revealed

People head out to the wilderness for a weekend of camping for many different reasons. From fishing to kayaking and from getting away from the hustle and bustle of city life to the peace and quiet to reflect on life, camping on a regular basis has health benefits that you need to know about. We will discuss a few of them in this next section of our blog.

The Fresh Air

Trees give us oxygen, so the more time you spend around trees, the better your breathing will be. Not only that though, when you’re out in the fresh air, but your body also gets a hit of serotonin when you first breathe in that fresh air, which is partially responsible for that jolt of happiness you get when you first step out onto your campsite.

Studies have also shown that being out in the fresh air for a few days can lower your blood pressure, boost your immune system, and improve your digestion as well. Did you know that fresh air could do all that? It can!

Heightens Your Social Skills

While there is certainly nothing wrong with camping alone, bringing a friend or family member along with you makes it even better. According to studies, socializing can actually lengthen your lifespan and make you healthier. After all, when you’re camping, you’re not on your phone, so you end up talking to one another, instead of texting from across the room to have a conversation.

It Works to Improve Your Mood

Since melatonin is a chemical in your brain that makes you sleepy and sluggish, being out in the sun for a few days can help you to even out that chemical and improve your mood. As a matter of fact, regular campers have reported feeling better and happier for days after coming back from a camping trip.

Helps to Cope with Stress

Every health benefit we have talked about above helps you to cope with stress as well. We all know that stress is the number one reason for people to be unhappy and depressed. It also not only affects our mental health but our physical health as well. Being overly stressed or stressed all of the time can lead to overeating, heart attacks, stroke, and severe depression.

No wonder, getting out and camping for the weekend, where you can leave the cares of the world behind makes such a difference in many people’s stress levels. If you’re stressed, try taking a trip to your favorite camping site and see how much better you feel when you get back home. It’s worth a shot, don’t you think?

Helps You Get Exercise

Then there’s is the most obvious benefit of going camping, the fact that you get the exercise you might not get during your normal work week. Even if you just take a fishing trip, ride your bike, or hike to your campsite, you’re going to burn more calories than you would ever burn sitting behind your computer at the office. Of course, your activity levels are going to vary, but either way, hiking, walking, swimming or riding a bike is bound to burn the calories and reduce your risk of heart disease and stroke at the same time, wouldn’t you think?

You get Plenty of Sunshine

Vitamin D is something our bodies need to stay healthy and fit. When you’re on a camping trip, you’re out in the sun a lot, so you are getting your dose of vitamin D in spades. Just don’t forget to take sunscreen and insect repellant along with you, because forgetting them can lead to a whole set of problems, you don’t want to have to deal with on your trip.

Meditation is Good for the Soul and the Body as Well

When you decide to head out on your camping trip, you need to make a hard and fast rule that no computers, tablets or other electronics are allowed. Take your cellphone with you so that you can get in touch with someone should an accident or emergency crop up but turn it off and enjoy the beauty of nature, solitude, and meditation electronics free. You’ll be surprised at how much better you feel when you have to go back to reality.

These are just a few of the health benefits associated with camping that you should know about. There are many more out there to discover. However, there are just as many benefits that aren’t health related to looking forward to as well, including spending time with family and friends. In the next section of our blog, we will go into those benefits as well. Ready to find out what they are? Okay, then, let’s do this!

Benefits of Camping with Family and Friends

Spending time with your family and friends is the perfect reason to head out on a camping trip for the weekend or even for a week if you can swing it. There are many, many benefits to be had by camping, let’s find out what they are in this next section.

Real Bonding Experiences

Studies show, and we have found it to be true, there is no better bonding experience than being in nature with your family. You have no screens distracting you, so when you ask for your child’s attention it’s easier to get, and there’s something about camping out together that brings a family closer. There is nothing like cuddling up around a campfire, after a long day of swimming, hiking, and playing to roast marshmallows and tell ghost stories. I know some of our best memories of childhood were from just these types of weekends.

So, if you’re looking to spend more time with the family you love and make great memories, unplug, hop in the car and go on a camping trip this weekend. You’ll be so glad that you did.

Reduces Screen Time

One of the biggest benefits of taking the family on a camping trip is the fact that there are no screens allowed. Being on electronics all of the time means that your family is missing out on what’s going on in the real world. Making sure to leave the electronics at home is the best way to connect with the family you love and making some lasting memories as well.

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Other Benefits of Camping

These are some of the biggest benefits of camping you should know about. Below, we will list a few others for your perusal as well.

Helps you to challenge yourself

Promotes independence in the kids
Builds self-esteem
Builds self-confidence

Helps to reconnect with nature
Promotes a healthy lifestyle
The food is healthier and tastes better

Promotes a good night’s sleep
Helps to develop skills that will last a lifetime
Helps you to make true friends that enjoy the same things you do

These are a few of the best and biggest benefits of taking your family camping this year. Whether it’s spring, summer, winter, or fall, camping can bring you together as nothing else can.

Now, that we know what the health benefits and other benefits of camping are, it’s time to get a little more serious with our blog. When you’re camping, whether as a beginner or someone who is a seasoned camper who has been doing it for years, you need to brush up on your safety rules and tips before you head out. In the next section of our blog, we will do just that. Ready to find out what safety tips and rules you should follow when camping, then let’s get started on that now. Pay close attention, as you don’t want to miss a thing.

Safety Rules and Tips to Follow when Camping

Whether you’re camping in the mountains or by the river, there are certain safety rules and tips you need to follow to ensure you and your family stay safe during this camping vacation. Whether you’re new to this or have been doing it for years, reading these tips and rules could just save your life. Read on below.

Never Camp in Banned Sites

In many places, there are designated camping areas where you can stay, then there are banned sites that you are supposed to stay away from. These campsites are banned for a reason, so you need to stay away from them at all costs.

Always Let Someone Know Where You Will Be

One of the biggest safety rules for camping is the same for about anything you do in the wilderness. You always want to let someone know where you are going to be, when you’ll be departing, and when they can expect you back. In this way, you’re assured that if something should happen and you’re not back at your expected time, someone will alert the proper authorities, know where you are located, and be able to send help in time to save you.

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Always Bring a First Aid Kit

It doesn’t have to be an elaborate first aid kit, but you do need to pack at least a basic one to bring along on your trip. Remember, you will be dealing with knives, fire, and even fishhooks, accidents are bound to happen. It’s best to have a first aid kit with you and not need it, than to forget to pack it, and need one, wouldn’t you think?

Remember, You’re in Nature

Never forget that you are camping in nature, which in reality is someone else’s home. A few things to watch out for when camping in nature are listed below.

Watch out for beehives hanging in trees and wasps’ nest on the ground. These insects will attack you if they feel threatened and you never know when someone in your party could be allergic and your trip in badly.
Never leave food lying around your campsite, because it’s an open invitation to small animals and even bears who could hurt you.
Be careful around rocks and bushes, as there could be snakes hiding in them. They could be poisonous, they could not, but it’s a chance you don’t want to take when you’re miles from civilization.

Keep in mind, that though no wild animal or insect is going to intentionally set out to hurt you while you are camping, this is their home, so respect it the way you should and be careful around them.

This concludes our blog on the biggest benefits of camping and a few rules you should follow as well. Until next time, happy camping and stay safe everyone!